ES2369052T3 - WINDSHIELD CLEANING DEVICE. - Google Patents

Abstract

A windscreen wiper device (1) comprising a wiper blade (2) comprising a spoiler (9) at a side thereof facing away from the windscreen to be wiped, wherein said wiper device (1) comprises a connecting device (6) having a substantially U-shaped cross-section, wherein legs (10,19) of said U-shaped cross-section are connected to said wiper blade (2) on opposite sides thereof, wherein a interior space (18) is left open between said connecting device (6) and said wiper blade (2), wherein said space (18) forms a water channel for transporting rain water therethrough.

Description

Windshield wiper device

The present invention relates to a windshield wiper device comprising an elongated elastic conveyor element, as well as an elongated wiper blade of a flexible material, which can be placed adjacent to a windshield to be cleaned, whose wiper blade includes at least one longitudinal groove, in which groove at least one longitudinal strip of the conveyor element is disposed, whose windshield wiper device comprises a connection device for an oscillating arm, in which said oscillating arm can be rotatably connected to said connection device around a axis of rotation near one end thereof, with the interposition of a joint piece, in which said wiper blade comprises a spoiler on one side of the same opposite the windshield to be cleaned, in which an interior space is leaves open between said connection device and said wiper blade at the location of s or interconnection, wherein said space forms a water conduit for transporting rainwater through it from a first side of said connecting device opposite said free end of said swing arm to a second side of said device opposite connection towards said free end of said oscillating arm, and in which, in use, said water conduit automatically conveys rainwater through it from said first side of said connecting device that has an overpressure with respect to the environment to said second side having a low pressure with respect to the environment as a result of an oscillatory movement of said oscillating arm.

A windshield wiper device of this type is generally known, for example, from European Patent Publication No. 1,876,073 of the same Applicant. This prior art windshield wiper device is designed in the form of a so-called "brush" or "yokeless scraper", in which several yokes are used rotatably connected to each other, but in which the wiper blade is beveled by the conveyor element, as a result of which it shows a certain curvature. The spoiler is also called "air deflector".

The object of the invention is to provide an improved windshield wiper device.

To achieve this objective, a windshield wiper device of the type referred to in the introduction is characterized in accordance with the invention in that said connection device has a substantially U-shaped cross section, in which the legs of said cross section with U-shaped are connected to the flexible material of said wiper blade on opposite sides thereof, in which said legs can move from an open position, in which said wiper blade can be placed inside said connecting device in the location of its interconnection, to a closed position, and wherein said legs are held around the flexible material of said wiper blade, wherein said longitudinal strip is provided along its inner and / or outer edge with at least a housing that cooperates with a corresponding projection in the connection device, and / or in which said strips longitudinally provided with at least one protrusion extending upward which cooperates with a corresponding housing in the connecting device. Said water conduit preferably extends in the longitudinal direction of said connection device. In practice, the flow of air as a result of the wind also contributes to the existence of a low pressure at the location of said second side.

It should be appreciated that the present invention is not restricted to the use of only a longitudinal strip forming the elastic conveyor element that is particularly located in a longitudinal central groove of the wiper blade. Instead, said conveyor element may also comprise two longitudinal strips, wherein said strips are arranged in opposite longitudinal grooves of the wiper blade.

In a preferred embodiment of a windshield wiper device according to the invention said spoiler continuously extends along said windshield wiper blade, wherein said space is defined between said connection device and said spoiler. In other words, said spoiler is not made of two sub-ailerons mounted on opposite sides of the connection device and extending from the connection device to a respective connection piece of the windshield wiper device. On the contrary, said spoiler extends in its entirety from a connection piece, through the connection device (which is between the legs of the U-shaped cross-section thereof), to the other connection device. Accordingly, the cleaning properties of the present wiper blade are improved, also because the rainwater is effectively guided along the entire spoiler so that it is cleaned by the oscillatory movement of said swing arm. Said spoiler is preferably made in one piece with said wiper blade.

In another preferred embodiment of a windshield wiper device according to the invention with the use of a special tool, said legs are pushed particularly against a spring force (as a result of the elasticity of the material from which the connecting device is made) from the closed position to the open position, in which said legs are automatically allowed to bounce from said open position to said closed position.

In another preferred embodiment of a windshield wiper device according to the invention, in said closed position, said windshield wiper blade and said longitudinal strip are fixed to each other by said legs at the location of the interconnection of said connection device and said windshield wiper blade , wherein in said closed position, said wiper blade can be moved in the longitudinal direction with respect to said longitudinal strip outside the interconnection location of said connection device and said wiper blade. In other words, the wiper blade and the longitudinal strip cannot move with each other in the connecting device, but in the other areas along the wiper blade a slight movement of them is made possible to allow said wiper blade of windshield wiper follow any curvature of the windshield to be cleaned. In said closed position, said legs slightly deform in particular (the rubber of) said wiper blade at the location of the interconnection of said connecting device and said wiper blade.

It should be noted that the interconnection of the connection device and the wiper blade through a clamping operation behaves effectively in the event that said connection device is made of metal.

In another preferred embodiment of a windshield wiper device according to the invention, said seal piece is detachably connected to said connection device by coupling the projections of said connection device, at the location of said axis of rotation, in the housings provided in said joint piece. This is preferably done through an adjustment or clamping operation.

In another preferred embodiment of a windshield wiper device according to the invention said joint piece has at least one substantially U-shaped cross section at the location of its connection to said connection device, and in which said joint piece is provided with a housing provided coaxially with said axis of rotation. In particular, the projections extend outwardly on any side of said connecting device and are preferably cylindrical in shape. In the alternative, said projections are spherical or frustro-conical. Said projections that function as support surfaces are therefore very separate, so that the force exerted on them is relatively low. In yet another preferred variant, said joint piece is provided with coaxial through holes in the legs of said U-shaped cross section thereof, in which a pivot pin is inserted into said through holes.

In another preferred embodiment of a windshield wiper device according to the invention, said projections are provided with coaxial through holes. Consequently, the wiper blade can then be connected to the swing arm on the basis of a so-called "side locking system". The swing arm is provided with a joint pin or a pivot pin that is to be inserted into said coaxial through holes. Said turning pin protrudes in a direction towards the wiper blade and has a rotation axis that extends in a direction of the oscillating movement of the oscillating arm.

In another preferred embodiment of a windshield wiper device according to the invention, said joint piece comprises at least one elastic tongue that engages in a hole with the corresponding shape provided on a base of a U-shaped cross section of said swing arm , and wherein said elastic tongue can rotate along a hinge shaft between an outer position retaining said wiper blade on said oscillating arm and an inner position that releases said wiper blade from said oscillating arm. Accordingly, the wiper blade can then be connected to the swing arm on the basis of a so-called "upper locking system" Based on a bayonet connection. To connect the wiper blade on the oscillating arm, the elastic tongue is initially pushed against a spring force - as if it were a push button - and then allowed to bounce to the hole provided in the oscillating arm, therefore adjusted, that is, , holding the elastic tongue in the hole. By pressing the elastic tongue again against the spring force, the wiper blade can be released from the swing arm.

Next, the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the figures illustrated in a drawing, in which

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Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a windshield wiper device according to the invention, with and without (a piece of) a swing arm, respectively;

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Figure 2 is an exploded view of a part of the windshield wiper device of Figure 1, showing a connection device according to a first preferred embodiment, as well as a joint piece;

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Figure 3 shows in detail the connection device according to the first preferred embodiment of Figure 2, as well as a connection device according to a second preferred embodiment;

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Figures 4 and 5 show in perspective and in cross section the principle of operation of the connection device according to the first preferred embodiment, as well as the way in which a wiper blade is connected thereto;

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Figures 6 and 7 correspond to Figures 4 and 5, but now in relation to the connection device according to the second preferred embodiment;

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Figures 8 and 9 are perspective views of two embodiments of a longitudinal strip cooperating with a connection device, as used in a windshield wiper device of Figure 1;

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Figure 10 corresponds to Figures 4 and 5, but now in relation to a third embodiment.

Figure 1 shows a preferred variant of a windshield wiper device 1 according to the invention. Said windshield wiper device is constituted by an elastomeric windshield wiper blade 2 comprising a longitudinal central groove 3, in which a longitudinal strip 4 made of a spring steel band is fitted in said longitudinal groove 3 (see Figures 5, 6 and 7). Said strip 4 forms a flexible conveyor element for the rubber wiper blade 2, so to speak, which is therefore beveled in a curved position (the curvature being in an operative position to that of a windshield to be cleaned) . One end of said strip 4 and / or one end of said windshield wiper blade 2 is connected to either side of the windshield wiper device 1 with respect to the respective connection pieces or "terminal plugs". 5. In this embodiment, the connection pieces 5 are separate construction elements, which can be secured according to their shape, as well as secured by their strength at both ends of said strip 4 and / or ends of said wiper blade 2. In another Preferred variant, said connection pieces 5 are in one piece with the strip 4 made of a spring steel band. The windshield wiper device 1 is further constituted by a metal connection device 6 for connecting an oscillating windshield wiper arm 7 thereto, with the interposition of a seal 8. The oscillating windshield wiper arm 7 is rotatably connected to the device connection 6 around an axis of rotation near one end. The preferred embodiment of Figure 1 according to the invention comprises a spoiler or an "air deflector" 9 which is made of a piece with the rubber wiper blade 2 and that extends along its entire length. This will be explained in more detail below.

Although not shown in Figure 1, but it is fully understood by an expert, said swing arm 7 is connected to a mounting head fixed for rotation to a shaft activated by a small motor. In use, the shaft rotates alternately clockwise and counterclockwise by transporting the mounting head also in rotation, which in turn pulls said oscillating arm 7 in rotation and then means of said connection device 6 moves said wiper blade 2.

An exploded view of a part of the windshield wiper device 1 of Figure 1 is shown in Figure 2, showing the connection device 6 according to a first preferred embodiment, as well as the joint part 8 of Figure 1. Figure 3a shows in detail the connection device 6 according to the first preferred embodiment of Figure 2, while in Figure 3b the connection device 6 according to a second preferred embodiment is shown. In both embodiments, said connecting devices 6 have a U-shaped cross section, in which the legs 10, 19 of said U-shaped cross section are connected to the rubber of said wiper blade 2 on opposite sides thereof. . In both embodiments, the spoiler 9 extends in its entirety from a connection piece 5 on one end of the windshield wiper device 1, through the connection device 6, that is, between the legs 10, 19 of the cross-section in the form of U thereof, to the other connection device 5 at the other end of the windshield wiper device

one.

Figures 4 and 5 show in perspective and in cross section the principle of operation of the connection device 6 according to the first preferred embodiment, as shown in Figure 3a. As mentioned above, this connection device 6 has a U-shaped cross section with said legs 10 and a base 11. With the help of a special tool 12, said legs 10 move from a non-operative position, as shown in figure 4a, to an open position, as shown in figure 4b. In fact, said tool 12 pushes said legs 10 in the direction of the arrows 13 against a spring force of the metal from which the connecting device 6 is made. This is possible as a result of the elastic properties of the metal. In said open position (figure 4b), said wiper blade 2 is mounted inside said connecting device 6 at the location of its interconnection in the direction of arrow 14, to an intermediate position, as shown in figure 4c. In the last position, the longitudinal strip 4 of the conveyor element slides to the longitudinal central groove 3 of the wiper blade 2, as shown in Figure 5a. If deemed appropriate, a lubricant is used to facilitate the insertion of the longitudinal strip 4 into said longitudinal groove 3. Finally, when the wiper blade 2 and the longitudinal strip 4 are in the correct position, the tool is removed special 12. Accordingly, said legs 10 of said connection device 6 are allowed to bounce to a closed position (Figure 5b), in which said legs 10 are held around said wiper blade 2, while the rubber of the said wiper blade 2 in the location where the legs 10 are coupled to the rubber. In said closed position, said wiper blade 2 and said longitudinal strip 4 are fixed to each other by said legs 10 at the location of the interconnection of said connection device 6 and said wiper blade 2, while in said closed position, said wiper blade 2 can be moved in the longitudinal direction relative to said longitudinal strip 4 out of the interconnection location of said connecting device 6 and said wiper blade 2

As shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5, the connection device 6 according to the first embodiment comprises two cylindrical projections 15 extending outwardly on either side of said connection device 6. These projections 15 are coupled in a manner rotating in identical cylindrical housings 16 of the plastic tip piece 8. Said projections 15 act as bearing surfaces at the location of the axis of rotation to rotate the joint piece 8 (and the swing arm 7 attached thereto) around the axis of rotation near one end of the oscillating arm 7. The projections 15 are preferably in one piece with said connection device 6. In the alternative, said projections 15 are part of a single rotation pin perpendicular to the connection device 6. As can be seen in Figures 1 and 2, the joint piece 8 comprises an elastic tongue 16 extending outward, while the swing arm 7 has a cross section to the U-shaped location of its connection to said joint piece 8, so that the tongue 17 'engages in an identically shaped hole 17' 'provided in a base of said U-shaped cross section. The connection device 6 with the wiper blade 2 is mounted on the oscillating arm 7 as indicated below. With the joint piece 8 already held on the connection device 6, it is rotated with respect to the connection device 6, so that said joint piece 8 can easily slide over a free end of the oscillating arm 7. During this sliding movement, the elastic tongue 17 'is initially pushed against a spring force and then allowed to bounce to said hole 17' ', therefore adjusting, i.e., holding the elastic tongue 16 in the hole 17. This is what called bayonet connection. The oscillating arm 7 together with the joint piece 8 can then be rotated again in a position parallel to the wiper blade 2 so that they are ready for use. By subsequently pushing said elastic tongue 17 'again against the spring force (as if it were a push button), the connecting device 6 and the joint piece 8 together with the wiper blade 2 can be released from the swing arm 7. The disassembly of the connection device 6 with the wiper blade 2 of the swing arm 7 is therefore carried out by sliding the connection device 6 and the joint piece 8 together with the wiper blade 2 in a direction outside the swing arm 7.

As can be seen in Figures 4 and 5, an interior space 18 is left open between said connection device 6 and said wiper blade 2 / spoiler 9 at the location of its interconnection. In other words, said space 18 is defined by said spoiler 9 of the wiper blade 2, as well as the legs 10 and the base 11 of the connecting device 6. Said interior space 18 functions as a water conduit extending in the longitudinal direction of said connection device 6. During use, said water line carries rainwater through it. In other words, in use, rainwater is carried from a first side of said connecting device 6 opposite said free end of said swing arm 7 to a second side of said connecting device 6 opposite towards said free end of said oscillating arm 7. As a result of the oscillating movement of said oscillating arm 7, in practice there is an overpressure with respect to the environment at the location of said first side of said connecting device 6, while a low pressure is present with respect to the environment at the location of said second side of said connection device 6. Due to said overpressure and said low pressure, the rainwater is pushed "automatically". through said water conduit.

Figures 6 and 7 show in perspective and in cross-section the principle of operation of the connection device 6 according to a second preferred embodiment, in which reference is made to Figure 3b. Like the connection device 6 of the first embodiment, this connection device 6 also has a U-shaped cross-section with legs 19 and a base 20. Said legs 19 move from a non-operative position (Figure 6a) being similar to an open position (figure 6b) to a closed position (figure 6c). First, the longitudinal strip 4 of the conveyor element slides towards the longitudinal central groove 3 of the wiper blade 2. Then, in said open position (Figure 6b), said wiper blade 2 with the longitudinal strip 4 is mounted on the interior of said connection device 6 at the location of its interconnection. Furthermore, when the wiper blade 2 together with the longitudinal strip 4 is in the correct position, the legs 19 move inward to a closed position, as shown in Figure 6c. Subsequently, two articulating arms 21 are hinged from an open position (figures 6a, 6b and 6c) to a closed position (figures 7a and 7b) in the direction of the arrows 22. In their closed position, as shown in figures 7a and 7b, protrusions extending upwardly 23 on said legs 19 are provided to the holes 24 of said hinges 21. With the help of a special tool indicated schematically by an arrow 25, the upper portions 26 of said protrusions 23 then deform in the lateral direction (figure 7b). Consequently, the connection device 6 is connected to the rubber of the wiper blade 2 through a corrugated operation, wherein said legs 19 slightly deform the rubber of said wiper blade 2 at the location where the legs 19 are attached to the rubber. In said closed position, after the upper parts 26 are deformed, said wiper blade 2 and said longitudinal strip 4 are fixed to each other by said legs 19 at the location of the interconnection of said connecting device 6 and said wiper blade 2, while in said closed position, said wiper blade 2 can move in a longitudinal direction relative to said longitudinal strip 4 outside the interconnection location of said connecting device 6 and said windshield wiper blade 2.

As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the connection device 6 according to the second embodiment comprises two cylindrical projections 27 extending outwardly on any side of said connection device 6. These projections 27 are rotatably coupled in identically cylindrical housings 16 of the plastic seal piece 8. Said projections 27 act as support surfaces at the location of the pivot shaft to rotate the seal piece 8 (and the swing arm 7 attached thereto) around the axis of rotation near one end of the swing arm 7. The projections 27 are preferably in one piece with said connecting device 6. In the alternative, said projections 27 are part of a single pivot pin perpendicular to the connecting device 6.

It should be appreciated that the connection device 6 according to the first and second embodiments is particularly provided with an outwardly extending projection 28 cooperating with a stop surface with the corresponding shape 29 (Figure 2) in the joint piece 8. In other words, if the primary retaining means in the form of the elastic tongue 17 'on the joint piece 8 and the hole 17' 'on the swing arm 7 had a malfunction, for whatever reason, then the secondary retaining means in the form of said projection 28 in the connection device 6 and said abutment surface 29 in the joint piece 8 would be provided to retain said wiper blade 2 on said oscillating arm 7. Said projections 28 and said stop surface 29 thus blocking any longitudinal movement of said wiper blade 2 in relation to said swing arm 7.

In Figure 8 several views are provided on the longitudinal strip 4, in which a housing 30 is cut into a longitudinal inner side 31 and / or a longitudinal outer side 32 thereof. These housings 30 cooperate with the corresponding projections 33 on the legs 10, 19 of the connecting device 6 to improve the retention of the wiper blade 2. Of course, it is also possible (instead of said housings / projections or in addition to them ) that one or two housings 34 in said leg or legs 10, 19 cooperate with one or two projections that extend upwardly 35 on the longitudinal strip 4. This is shown in Figure 9. The retention of the wiper blade 2 also it can result (if not the only one) friction between the legs 10, 19

or the connection device 6 and the wiper blade 2 rubber.

Figure 10 corresponds to Figures 4 and 5, but now in relation to a third embodiment, in which the corresponding parts have been designed with the same reference numbers, and in which Figures 10a to 10e show chronologically in stages the mounting a wiper blade 2 on a connection device 6 having a U-shaped cross section with a base 11 and legs 10. In a non-operative position of Figure 10a, the legs 10 are already in an open position for allow mounting of the wiper blade 2 between said legs 10, that is, within the U-shaped cross section, while leaving an open space 18 between a spoiler 9 of the windshield wiper blade 2, the legs 10 and the base 11 of the connection device 6 (figure 10b). Again, said space 18 functions as a water conduit which has been described above with respect to the first and second embodiments shown in Figures 4 and 5, as well as Figures 6 and 7, respectively. In the mounted position of the wiper blade 2 in Figure 10b, the legs 10 of the U-shaped cross section are corrugated or compressed in the direction of the arrows of Figures 10c and 10d. As a result of permanent deformation of said legs 10, said legs 10 are forced to remain in the position of Figure 10e, despite any rebound phenomenon with respect to said legs 10 when the corrugation or compression force is released (Figure 10e). Instead of or in addition to said deformation, a cover (not shown) provided on said U-shaped cross section can also be used to force said legs 10 to remain in the position of Figure 10e.

The invention is not restricted to the variants shown in the drawing, but also extends to other preferred embodiments that fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (13)

one.

A windshield wiper device (1) comprising an elongated elastic conveyor element, as well as an elongated wiper blade (2) of a flexible material, which can be placed adjacent to a windshield to be cleaned, whose wiper blade (2) includes at least one longitudinal groove (3), in which groove (3) there is at least one longitudinal strip (4) of the conveyor element, whose windshield wiper device (1) comprises a connection device (6) for an oscillating arm (7) , wherein said oscillating arm (7) can be rotatably connected to said connecting device (6) around a rotation axis near one end thereof, with the interposition of a joint piece (8), in which said wiper blade (2) comprises a spoiler (9) on one side thereof opposite the windshield to be cleaned, in which an interior space (18) is left open between said connection device (6) and said wiper blade abrisas (2) at the location of its interconnection, in which said space (18) forms a water conduit for transporting rainwater through it from a first side of said connecting device (6) opposite to said free end of said oscillating arm (7) to a second side of said connecting device (6) opposite towards said free end of said oscillating arm (7), and in which, in use, said water conduit automatically transports water of rain through it from said first side of said connecting device (6) which has an overpressure with respect to the surroundings to said second side that has a low pressure with respect to the surroundings as a result of an oscillatory movement of said oscillating arm ( 7); characterized in that said connecting device (6) has a substantially U-shaped cross section, in which the legs (10, 19) of said U-shaped cross section are connected to the flexible material of said wiper blade (2) on opposite sides thereof, in which said legs (10, 19) can be moved from an open position, in which said wiper blade (2) can be placed inside said connecting device (6) in the location from its interconnection, to a closed position, and in which said legs (10, 19) are held around the flexible material of said wiper blade (2), in which said longitudinal strip (4) is provided along its inner and / or outer edge (31, 32) with at least one housing (30) cooperating with a corresponding projection (33) in the connecting device (6), and / or in which said longitudinal strip (4) is provided with at least one projection that it extends upwards (35) which cooperates with a corresponding housing (34) in the connection device (6).

2.

A windshield wiper device (1) according to claim 1, wherein said water line extends in the longitudinal direction of said connection device (6).

3.

A windshield wiper device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said spoiler (9) continuously extends along the length of said windshield wiper blade (2), and wherein said space (18) it is defined between said connection device (6) and said spoiler (9).

Four.

A windshield wiper device (1) according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said spoiler (9) is made of a piece with said windshield wiper blade (2).

5.

A windshield wiper device (1) according to any of the preceding claims 1 to 4, wherein said legs (10, 19) can be pushed against a spring force from the closed position to the open position, and wherein said legs (10, 19) can bounce from said open position to said closed position.

6.

A windshield wiper device (1) according to claim 5, wherein in said closed position, said wiper blade (2) and said longitudinal strip (4) are fixed to each other by said legs (10, 19) in the location of the interconnection of said connection device (6) and said wiper blade (2), and in which in said closed position, said wiper blade (2) can move longitudinally with respect to said longitudinal strip (4) outside the interconnection location of said connection device (6) and said wiper blade (2).

7.

A windshield wiper device (1) according to one of the preceding claims 5 to 6, wherein in said closed position, certain legs (10, 19) slightly deform said windshield wiper blade (2) at the interconnection location of said connection device (6) and said wiper blade (2).

8.

A windshield wiper device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 7, wherein said connection device (6) is made of metal.

9.

A windshield wiper device according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 8, wherein said seal piece (8) is detachably connected to said connection device (6) by coupling the projections (15, 27) of said device connection (6), in the location of said axis of rotation, in housings (16) provided in said joint piece (8).

10.

A windshield wiper device (1) according to claim 9, wherein said seal piece (8) has at least one substantially U-shaped cross section at the location of its interconnection to said connection device (6), and wherein said joint piece (8) is provided with a housing (16) provided coaxially with said axis of rotation.

eleven.

A windshield wiper device (1) according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the projections (15, 27) extend outwardly on either side of said connection device (6).

12. A windshield wiper device (1) according to claims 9, 10 or 11, wherein said projections (15, 5 27) are provided with coaxial through holes. 13. A windshield wiper device (1) according to claims 9, 10 or 11, wherein said joint piece (8) comprises at least one elastic tongue (17 ') that engages in a hole with the corresponding shape (17' ') provided on a base of a U-shaped cross section of said oscillating arm (7), and in the one who said 10 elastic tongue (7 ') can rotate along a hinge shaft between an outer position that retains said wiper blade (2) on said oscillating arm (7) and an inner position that releases said wiper blade (2) from said swing arm (7).